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Chapter 22: At Wu Mountain
writer:无罪      update:2022-07-21 15:26
  The sky was full of stars. It looked especially clear from the mountain peak, even the rarely visible galaxy was reflected in Li Lingjun’s eyes.

  The reason this rare conference was to occur at Deer Mountain was due to the unique location. It was possible to see the lands of multiple dynasties from the peak. Also, because of Deer Mountain’s elevation and planarity, the entire world was in sight. Deer Mountain was tall, but most of its peak was flat land. When one walked, one did not seem to be at the peak of the mountain, but on the plains.

  At this time, before Li Lingjun, was a small palace set up on a flat part of Deer Mountain’s peak.

  The travelling palace was exquisitely slender, making people think of slender waists.

  A delicate red carpet led towards this palace that was built in a day. Standing on the sides of the carpet were Chu beauties in palace attire and powerful cultivators.

  Seeing Li Lingjun come over, these beauties and powerful cultivators all knelt in greeting.

  The Chu Dynasty had been the first to ascend Deer Mountain today. He had already been ennobled as crown prince. There were many existence among the kneeling beauties and cultivators present that he had to carefully ponder and even look up to.

  Seeing their respect, and even fear and regret, Li Lingjun felt extremely strange.

  He should feel immense hatred towards these people, and even his father-king in the palace. But when he was ennobled as the crown prince, this kind of hate seemed to have dissipated.

  Perhaps because he had stayed too long in Changling, that it felt very unfamiliar when he saw the Chu people.

  He felt that he was one of the Qin looking at the Chu.

  The Chu crown prince was fated to be the future Chu king, but before truly ascending to the throne, the master of the Chu Dynasty was still the old person in the palace. He had to abide by palace protocol.

  He needed to go pay respects, morning and night.

  He walked into the quiet palace, and disbelief flashed through his eyes immediately.

  The figure of the wrinkle-faced emperor was not on the pure gold dragon couch.

  “Do not worry. Just like how you never imagined he would leave after ascending Deer Mountain, no one in the world will know that he has left Deer Mountain at this time.” Consort Zhao Xiang, dressed in light robes, looked at his shocked features and said, “He will return before the Deer Mountain Conference starts.”


  Li Lingjun suppressed his shock, his gaze still remaining on the empty couch. He asked softly, “Where did Father-King go. What is he doing?”


  Consort Zhao Xiang shook her head and answered seriously, “Even I do not know.”


  Li Lingjun was completely dumbstruck.

  The monarch travelling privately was not logical, especially when his body was not in good condition. The Deer Mountain Conference, that would determine the fate of the Chu and the entire world, was about to start …… If his father-king, King Wulie, who still controlled the entire Chu Dynasty had some mishap before the Deer Mountain Conference……

  He didn’t even dare to think further because he knew, based on his present capabilities, he could not deal with or control a situation like that.

  The Chu King, who was said to be in ill health, his body ruined by alcohol and lust and about to die, suddenly left after ascending Deer Mountain. The strongest emperor of the Qin Dynasty, Emperor Yuanwu, was travelling quickly on the armored ships towards Deer Mountain.

  At this time, Ding Ning and Fu Su were entering the Wu Mountain.

  Forefather Zhou did not enter the Wu Mountain from any of the Qin forts. This meant they were on a path that ordinary carriages could not travel.

  The carriages of the Zhou Family had long been abandoned. Even the three carriage drivers did not follow them into Wu Mountain.

  Within the humid and wild forest, Ding Ning swung the Last Flower remnant sword to create a path. Before him, Fu Su supported Forefather Zhou whose lower limbs could no longer move.

  The thick mist had permeated Ding Ning and Fu Su’s clothes. Adding on the water dripping down from the leaves and branches, Ding Ning and Fu Su’s clothes were dripping as well.

  They were cold all over. The mountain was steep and had no paths. Insects and snakes were also travelling through the forest. They had to keep up their guard at every moment. Even if Ding Ning and Fu Su’s vital energy could flow, this kind of travel could not be described as easy, much less when the pair’s vital energy was sealed, and even their blood flowed slowly.

  Knowing that Forefather Zhou would not act before they reached their destination, Ding Ning and Fu Su’s attitudes were not respectful.

  “The blood channels in half of your body are completely frozen. Even I can see you will die in less than half a year.” Fu Su was usually kind. But at this time, he was in pain all over. He also had to carry such a hateful person and travel in such discomforting circumstances. Due to all this, his tone was full of scorn. “You are not preparing for your funeral in Changling, and want to come to such a horrid environment. What do you want to do?”


  This was not many days after the battle with Chen Chu. Forefather Zhou was slowly releasing his presence at the moment to maintain the dryness and cleanliness of his body. However, his features had withered, and wrinkles had appeared on his skin.

  Even if insects hollowed out a tree, if the roots were still strong, the tree could still have a rich crown. But if the roots were wilted and energies in chaos, this tree would quickly wither away.

  At Fu Su’s scornful words, Forefather Zhou was not angry at all. The maliciousness in his eyes had long disappeared into a kind of harsh calmness. “We are in about the same situation. Why shall we mock each other?”


  “While I do not know why you have made a special trip to this Wu Mountain, if you wanted to come, you could have come long ago. Why do you have to have me come with you?” Hearing Fu Su’s scornful words and Forefather Zhou’s retort, Ding Ning looked back at Forefather Zhou and asked calmly.

  Forefather Zhou looked at Ding Ning with admiration and answered. “For you possess the most comprehensive ability I have ever seen. I have met many cultivators with an astounding ability to comprehend, but none as fast as you. In reality, I suspect even if I did not teach you, you will comprehend the star fiend condensing method on the Painting Remnant Scroll.”


  Ding Ning did not look back but raised his eyebrows slightly. “A question per person?”


  Forefather Zhou smiled unconcernedly and nodded. “Without my teaching, would you have comprehended the star fiend condensing method on the Painting Remnant Scroll that day?”


  Ding Ning nodded to show his admittance and then asked, “From your words, you need a person who is able to comprehend well and fast? Why?”


  Forefather Zhou looked at his back and said, “You will naturally know once you get there.”


  Fu Su was immediately incensed. “You do not keep your word!”


  “Taking you to see in person means I am keeping my word.” Forefather Zhou said in a cool voice, “Your talent is not bad. When it is time, I hope that you will not disappoint me. Otherwise, I will quickly kill you, and then return to Changling to prepare my affairs.”


  Ding Ning travelled silently for a while before abruptly breaching the silence. “I hear that Wu Mountain is like Ba Mountain, surrounded by mountains; even hunters cannot penetrate deeply. It is suitable for cultivation and building hidden sects isolated from the outside world. Yet, Wu Mountain is too cold and not good for a cultivator’s health. In history, there has never been a spirit vein here, so no sects were ever founded here, and no ancient sect ruins were left behind. But because of the terrible environment that even cultivators do not go, there are many beasts and spirit medicines in several parts.”


  “Some ancient sects will discover spirit medicines and useful beasts, but if they are not mature, out of fear that other sects will discover and steal them, the powerful cultivators of the sect would set up powerful formations. This would trap the beasts and medicines, and hide them from the world.”


  After saying this, Ding Ning glanced back at Forefather Zhou and said coolly, “Is it spirit medicine or a beast?”


  Fu Su stilled slightly as he realized.

  Forefather Zhou frowned, a harsh light flashing through his eyes. “As expected, you are the best strategist of Two Level Tower.”


  “If you are truly able to help me this time, I will give you a chance to choose.”


  He took a deep breath, looked at Ding Ning, and slowly said, “Support the Zhou Family or die. Have you ever thought what kind of power would the Zhou Family, the Xie Family and Two Level Tower form?”


  “To grow into the strongest force in Changling, and then have someone cut out your intestines again?” Before Fu Su could even imagine the scene, Ding Ning started to laugh.

  “Haha.”


  Fu Su also couldn’t help but laugh.

  He had truly hit Forefather Zhou at his weak spot. Forefather Zhou’s hair started to dance. A terrifying presence swept outwards with him at the center to form walls of wind.

  “How much longer?”


  Wavering in the wind, Ding Ning looked unconcernedly at the snarling Foreafther Zhou, saying flatly, “Rather than waste energy, how about opening the path for me. That way, we can reach our destination faster. Perhaps I can discern something faster.”


  Forefather Zhou forced down the murderousness filling his body. He closed his eyes and stopped talking.

  But his body started to release a sharp presence pointing ahead of Ding Ning. Like an invisible sword, it created a path that people could quickly pass through.

  Translator Ramblings: For just a second there, it felt like Forefather Zhou was the exasperated parent with two kids on a roadtrip.

  Volume 4 22 - Exactly What I Want

  “Min Mountain Sword Sect has no arrangements for other people.”


  Nangong Caishu shook her head at Ding Ning and said, “If not for your request, even I would have been kept back at Min Mountain Sword Sect to cultivate.”


  Ding Ning seemed unsurprised. After a moment of silence, he said with satisfaction, “Min Mountain Sword Sect responded with a satisfactory attitude to the empress, and she has repaid them.”


  Nangong Caishu understood Ding Ning’s meaning. “You worry that she will treat us like she did Zhang Yi?”


  “She is most adept at separating one from friends and family,” Ding Ning said with a cold smile.

  Nangong Caishu stilled slightly. She thought of how Ding Ning had killed Palace Attendant Rong. That had been in retribution for the empress dealing with Zhang Yi.

  “To be able to let Xie Changsheng stay in Min Mountain Sword Sect …… and he seemed to have let many students who were injured stay in Min Mountain Sword Sect.” Ding Ning looked at Nangong Caishu and said, “Baili Suxue seems to have changed.”


  Nangong Caishu felt that she could not judge people of such a level like Ding Ning was doing so casually so she could not reply.

  Min Mountain was cold up high.

  Baili Suxue looked at the mountain snow and asked a Min Mountain Sword Sect cultivator in green robes behind him, “He has no other requests?”


  The Min Mountain Sword Sect cultivator respectfully shook his head. “Other than asking for those people to come along, he has no other requests.”


  Baili Suxue said coolly, “Since he has no other requests, this means he is confident.”


  The Min Mountain Sword Sect cultivator behind him was slightly reluctant. “We will let the empress do this?”


  “Burning ties at a needless time can only be called rash.” Baili Suxue said expressionlessly in a slow voice, “No matter how united, there are always some swords to make her and Yuanwu wary. No need to make it a life and death struggle.”


  For many people of Changling, a place colder than Min Mountain was the depths of the imperial palace.

  Deep in the palace, a grey-robed man knelt on the stone path in front of the empress’ study. He was tall so even kneeling on the ground, he appeared tall. His right sleeve was empty and it swayed in the breeze. He looked very miserable and humble. But none could connect him to the master of Great Floating Water Prison, Shen Xuan. He did not know how long he had knelt for

  From the study ahead, a cold voice finally sounded. “I only asked you to see me, why kneel?”


  Shen Xuan looked at the ground in front of his knees and did not look up as he said, “It is my failure that Great Floating Water Prison was broken in and Lin Zhujiu was lost, I came to receive punishment.”


  “If you feel no guilt and did your best, there is no need to kneel.” The empress’ voice came slowly through the study.

  Hearing this cold and authoritative voice, Shen Xuan did not argue and hung his head silently.

  “I originally thought you liked the Great Floating Water Prison.” The empress continued. “You can meet more cultivators there, and learn many cultivation methods from them. So your cultivation has increased greatly in those years. Do not forget, among the people of your age, many cultivators with better talent are far behind you.”


  “But now I know you did not like it, you are not as you appeared. If my judgement was mistaken, it is naturally my mistake and not yours.”


  “You should know, unless I do not speak, if I do speak, I will do what I have said. I can give you a promise.”


  The voice coming from the study was no longer so cold and started to turn peaceful. “If you like, you can accompany the army to Donghu …… If you can take the Heaven Replenishing Divine Art from the youth, you will be the fourteenth Qin marquis and I can let you choose your lands.”


  Shen Xuan’s body did not tremble at all, but his face twitched. He took a deep breath and then slowly stood up. He said, “I will go to Donghu.”


  The empress’ voice sounded from the study. “I hope you really like it this time.”


  Shen Xuan lifted his head and said, “I do.”


  Changling was always filled with numerous joys and sorrows. Some people were in joy while others in sorrow.

  Huang Zhenwei looked sorrowfully at Mo Shoucheng who was laying on the rattan chair and said in a trembling voice, “Teacher, wait for me.”


  Mo Shoucheng slowly lifted his head to glance at him and nodded.

  Huang Zhenwei turned and walked down the turret, moving in the direction of the imperial palace under the morning light. He knew his teacher had reached his last moments. How long he would stay in the world depended on his teacher’s will. If his teacher wanted to leave, he could leave at any moment. He knew that with his teacher’s condition, each moment was extra pain. But he wanted his teacher to wait until he came back from the imperial palace……

  He wanted to request some things from the empress. At least, his teacher should not be like the master of the Shang Family. At least, his master could have less of a bad name.

  This was his sincere wish as a student. He wanted to do that.

  Yet he did not know, when he left the turret, the cold general turned around Mo Shoucheng’s rattan chair at his indication. This way, Mo Shoucheng could see Huang Zhenwei moving away.

  “What is the meaning?” Mo Shoucheng seemed to be speaking to Huang Zhenwei and also to himself and the general behind him. “When you live to my age, you will understand there is nothing more important than life and death as well as doing as you please. When one is dead, everything is gone. You will reach inner peace. Why care about these matters left behind?”


  After saying all this, he pulled up his blanket and closed his eyes as though he was dozing.

  Huang Zhenwei walked quickly. He seemed to be a beam of light moving through Changling. At one place, he stopped for a moment.

  Here, he could see a desolate alley nearby, Falling Parasol. At this time, he did not think of anything about the wine shop youth except how he looked standing in front of Xue Wangxu’s corpse at the start of Min Mountain Sword Trials.

  The scene in his mind slowly merged with Ding Ning’s shadow. He thought that his emotions now were Ding Ning’s emotions back then.

  He stopped for a moment and then continued to advance. Then, he quickly stopped again.

  With his cultivation, he could hear many quiet sounds. He was used to hearing the sounds of the world rushing into his ears, he would then eliminate the disorderly sounds until he heard what he wanted to.

  What he heard now was what he desired. His body inexplicably trembled. The sound he heard accidentally was an ordinary conversation between two people in the alley.

  “Blacksmith Zhang’s daughter is looking better, exactly the same as her mother in her youth, the same mold.”


  “Her mouth is the same as Blacksmith Zhang. I think you are old and your memory is failing. Even if it is the same painter, no two people can look exactly the same.”


  “You are so serious ……”


  Hearing this conversation that would occur frequently in the alleys, Huang Zhenwei knew he had made a serious mistake, or rather, he had overlooked something.

  Sometimes, when one has been searching for a long time and had no clues, the clues, like the unremarkable grass on the side of the road, had already entered his sight.

  Many people had investigated Ding Ning. Long ago, after the storm when Ye Celeng returned to Changling, the Divinity Bureau had investigated Divinity Bureau, and his aunt Zhangsun Qianxue. Even the Divinity Bureau felt there were no problems and destroyed Ding Ning’s case files, but if someone important wanted to investigate Ding Ning, the information they would get would not be any less than the Divinity Bureau.

  Back during the Deer Mountain Conference, Huang Zhenwei had seen some of Ding Ning’s information. This information included Zhangsun Qianxue. Their births had no problems. He had even seen their family history.

  In the family history, there was Zhangsun Qianxue’s mother’s portrait. This mother in the portrait looked almost the same as Zhangsun Qianxue. Not just appearance, they were almost identical in expression.

  There could not be two of the same rivers in the world, or two people that looked exactly the same. This was a simple truth. Yet when he flipped through the family history, he had not made a serious comparison, and just thought that Zhangsun Qianxue’s mother was also an unforgettable beauty.

  If that portrait had been made based on Zhangsun Qianxue, then it was a fake.

  A fake was the biggest problem.

  Translator Ramblings: Finally, someone on the “other side” has found a clue.

  Volume 2 22 - Sword Slash

  This chapter has been brought to you by me, and larkspur.

  The power that Forefather Zhou released was not fierce, but the moment Ding Ning’s body passed through the stone structure, there was an even stronger force squeezing him, his bones creaked like they were on the verge of snapping.

  Blood beaded along Ding Ning’s mouth. He knew this force came from the formation of the stone structure. Since Forefather Zhou had come here once before, he naturally knew about this formation. Also, since he was being used to lure away the blind dragon, he would not be allowed to die so easily.

  As a result, he felt no shock at all. With a muffled grunt, the hidden little silkworms in his body suddenly started to violently surge and consume the cold fiendish energy Forefather Zhou had forced into his body.

  Immediately, cracking sounds rang from within his body; so tightly packed, it was intimidating. But his body had flown deep into the blue structure, so Forefather Zhou on the outside, could not detect the sounds at all.

  With a poof, his body landed heavily among dried yellow leaves and sent the rotten leaves and dirt that had been gathered since many years, into the air.

  The rotten leaves were dry and weathered. The unknown trees and vines in the surroundings were tightly packed and filled the entire blue structure.

  Through the gaps of these branches and vines, he could see complicated seal scripts on the inner walls of the structure. These scripts flashed with light and gave off a holy presence. There were some strange statues standing among the packed trees. The statues had no features but emanated a peculiar murderousness.

  Knowing the blind dragon would arrive soon, Ding Ning, who had fallen into a corner of this blue structure, did not adjust his posture. His body lay strangely on the ground, like a carrot pulled halfway out of the dirt. The little silkworms in his body were feeding at a faster rate.

  Life and death was only the difference of moments.

  The cold energy that filled his meridians like black sand were quickly disconstructed by the frenzied feeding of the little silkworms.

  At this time, countless straight lines appeared in the dried leaves in front of him and stretched towards his body.

  When these ruler-straight lines were tens of feet away from him, a terrifying presence pressed on his body. ……

  straight tears appeared on his clothing. Streaks of blood also surfaced on the skin underneath the clothing. His body looked like it would split into pieces along these bloody lines in the next moment.

  With Ding Ning’s present cultivation, he could not resist this kind of power. However, his visage was extremely calm.

  The numerous little silkworms in his body were retreating at an unimaginable rate. The moment these little silkworms hid away, his breathing and heartbeat completely stopped.

  The energy and flowing presence in his body seemed to have been sucked away by these little silkworms. His skin lost its heat.

  He was clearly alive, but he was like a corpse that had been dead for a long time.

  The ruler-straight presences that reached towards his body stilled in bewilderment.

  The slight vibration caused by this pause crushed all the dried leaves and vines in the surroundings into powder.

  A mist of yellow and grey appeared before him.

  A ball of black appeared within the expanding ball of mist, growing larger as it emerged.

  An enormous black head poked out of the mist ball and appeared in front of Ding Ning.

  This was an enormous black head that looked like a giant catfish. There were dozens of flesh whiskers floating underneath its chin, but it did not have a mouth or eyes. Atop its black skull were more than a dozen marks that flashed with jewel-like light, like precious black stones.

  The enormous head, bigger than several adults combined, was without features. This was a weird sight. Also, the cruel and powerful light flashing in the black marks invoked the feeling that the presence of death was spreading.

  This enormous black head moved slightly closer to Ding Ning. The energy it gave off pressed on Ding Ning. His bones once again creaked, and flesh was about to be torn into pieces. But the countless little silkworms in his body silently reappeared and went through his blood and flesh.

  His entire body seemed to have become a cocoon.

  This strange black form was the blind dragon, said to be as strong as a realm seven. It could not see, but it was exponentially more sensitive towards presences than ordinary cultivators. At this time, the marks on its black head were flashing violently, expressing its bewilderment.

  A flesh whisker floated onto Ding Ning’s chest.

  His clothes around the chest were reduced to fine powder, a black crack appeared on his chest.

  In his consciousness, Ding Ning was aware of all this; but his mind maintained absolute calm, without any change.

  The blind dragon’s head retreated slightly. It stilled for many breaths, then its head stirred slightly. It swayed several times around Ding Ning’s body before it slowly retreated and disappeared into the mist.

  Sensing the blind dragon’s retreat, Ding Ning did not feel any joy because he could not stay here forever in such a condition. If his body showed any flow of presence, this blind dragon would return. Also, given this powerful beast’s intelligence, it would realize that he had fooled it.

  He could not use the Nine Death Silkworm to fool the blind dragon again, but Ding Ning still believed he had a chance to survive.

  His body still seemed dead. Without the flow of blood, his body heat dissipated. However, the little silkworms in his body were in motion again.

  As if they were spitting silk, the little silkworms slowly spat out some energies that came out of his skin.

  His body was instantly covered in pale white thread. Now, these threads of white energy flowed together and landed on the ground in front of him.

  The stream of pale white energy twisted before forming several little swords. They passed through the ground in front of him, leaving behind criss-crossing marks.

  Ding Ning’s body was coming back to life. The blood in his body started to surge.

  He took a deep breath, an ear-splitting sound rang through the air.

  In this instant, the blind dragon who had retreated, sensed the presence here. Wind gushed through the vines and branches, the leaves and branches hitting together created terrifying sounds.

  A vicious and enormous presence passed through.

  The black head once again appeared in Ding Ning’s sight.

  The wound on Ding Ning’s chest started to bleed. He narrowed his eyes and managed to take a clear look at the blind dragon this time.

  Behind the enormous black head was a round body. However, this body was extremely thin like skin over bones.

  Countless energies surged off this blind dragon and passed under the ground like unseen swords. Unlike last time, the power it displayed this time was much greater. Dust burst from the ground. Ding Ning would not be able to survive the power contained in these waves of dust.

  However, an unprecedented hint of authority surfaced in Ding Ning’s eyes.

  "I want to negotiate with you."

  He raised his head, fixed his eyes on the blind dragon and spoke calmly, yet authoritatively.

  At the same time, he gripped the Last Flower remnant sword and swung it towards the ground in front of him.

  A sword light landed.

  This sword light was extremely weak compared to the blind dragon. However, the sword mark left behind could connect to the multiple sword marks that had been left here before.

  A unique presence emanated from these sword marks. There was no tangible power, just a faint presence.

  But this presence seemed to be dispersed evenly through the surrounding world, a part of each stream of primal energies, and even part of this strange blue structure and its body.

  It felt a shudder rise and quickly cover its entire body. Its advancing body and power came to a complete halt. Then, the entire space started to tremble.

  It grew even more puzzled, then, it felt terror.

  That presence surpassed its power. It had only sensed such a presence from the cultivator who had trapped it in this structure.

  "I can let you out."

  Looking at the blind dragon, Ding Ning took a deep breath, knowing his gamble had succeeded. He looked at the blind dragon with even more authority and coldness as he spoke slowly.

  Then he looked away from this terrifying and powerful beast to turn towards the wall at his side.

  "Destruction is much easier than creation."

  He seemed to be talking to himself but also this blind dragon. He exhaled slowly and once again swung the Last Flower sword in hand.

  Multiple sword energies that were not especially powerful shot out of the tip of the sword. They stabbed into the motionless air. In the next moment, they seemed to have disturbed invisible lines. Blue lightning suddenly struck in front of his body.

  With a boom, blue lightning as thick as his leg stretched from his sword tip and landed on the multiple seal script on the inner walls of the structure.

  The structure did not shake at all, but numerous miniscule flows of wind erupted from the ground.

  The enormous blind dragon moved back tens of feet. Its body shook violently and pulled back all of the power it had released.

  "It appears that we can have a good talk," Ding Ning took a deep breath, looked at its body and slowly said.

  Editor’s two cents: That’s

  à la Ding Ning, people.

  Translator Ramblings: For some reason, I imagine a catfish-mole creature …… whose powers are extremely biased towards the earth.